Cushion-sole.



(No Modal.)

, Patented July 4, I399.

H. USULLIVAN.

' CUSHION SOLE.

(Applica tion filed Jan. 21, 1899.)

xx: NORRIS azrzas ca, FHOTC-LITHO., WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUMPH REY OSULLIVAN, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

CUSHION-SOLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,209, dated July 4, 1899. Application filed January 21,1899. stun 110.702.8991 (No model.)

To all "whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUMPHREY OSULLI-' VAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at,

, boots or shoes, and more particularly to an elastic or cushion sole made of rubber or some analogous material and designed to be attached to the bottoms of leather or rubber boots or shoes.

The object of the present invention is to produce a rubber sole so constructed that it will better cushion the contact of the foot with the ground and insure a frictional engagement with the ground to prevent slipping by means of suctionrecesses so formed that their action will be greatlyimproved and also prevent dirt and snow from gathering in and becoming packed in such recesses.

To the above end the present invention consists of the improved elastic sole, which will be hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 shows in bottom plan view my improved elastic sole. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section taken on the line to .90, Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters will be employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the. specification-and drawings.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the sole, which preferably comprises a shank portion 2 and a fore part 3, the shank portion 2 when employed being preferably made thinner than the fore part 3 for the purpose of reducing the weight of the sole and the amount of material used in its manufacture.

The fore part 3 of the sole is provided upon its tread-face with one ormore suction-recesses 4, there being preferably five of such recesses, as shown in Fig. 1, and preferably arranged so that two recesses will be at the ball portion, one at the outer ball portion and one at the inner ball portion, two at a point in advance of the ball portion, one on each side of the sole,'and one at the toe portion in line with the longitudinal central line of the fore part 3. By thus arranging the suction-recesses thereis secured a progressive and positive ac tion of the same as the foot is raised from the ground in the act of walking, the pressure of the foot being grad ually transferred along the sole from the ball to the toe, thus bringing into action the suction-recesses at the ball portion first, then the recesses in advance of the ball portion, and finally the recess at the toe portion. It will be noted that the suctionrecesses are disposed at the points where the pressure of the foot is greatest and upon which the weight of the body is supported, thus by reason of the construction of the suction-recesses, which will be described, forming a cushion for the parts of the foot which support the greatest weight.

The suction-recesses 4 are formed by molds or in any other'suitable manner and annular in form, as shown, and sunken below the surface of the tread-face of the sole, and centraliy disposed in each recess is'a stud or boss 5, formed integrally of the material of the sole and having its top portion substantially in the plane of the surface of the tread-face of the sole.

By providing the suction-recesses with the stud 5 not only do such studs act to frictionally engage the surface of the ground, thus augmenting the action of the suction-recesses, but they also act to support the dome of the suction-recess to prevent the undue flattening of such recess, which in shoe-soles must be made quite large in diameter, and, furthermore, the constant compression and expansion of the stud 5 in walking causes them to loosen up any dirt or snow which may gather in the recess and prevents it from packing therein to be carried into the house.

If desired, the tread-surface of the sole may be provided with numerous small auxiliary suction-recesses 6 to further insure the grip of the sole on the surface walked on.

Having thus described my invention, I I recess to the level of the tread-face 0f the claim as new and desire to secure by Letters sole, substantially as described. 10 Patent of the United States In testimony whereof I aflix my signature A sole, for boots or shoes, of elastic matein presence of two Witnesses. r 5 rial, provided with a. plurality of suction-re- HUMPHREY OSULLIVAN.

recess haviuga centrally-disposed stud or boss A. E. VVHYTE,

:esses in the tread-face thereof, each suction- Witnesses: projected upwardly from the bottom of the I C. KITCHING.

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